Even with just-broken-up brain I can’t believe I read the whole book and only just realised what the title says 🤦‍♀️ If you fancy some fun with buccaneering hijinks and a mystery to solve then this is one for you. Thanks to #Toppsta and @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social #UKKidLit #KidLitUK

Keeping it simple for #KidsBooksFriday this week as I’m shattered. Share your great kids book recommendations featuring a cat. 🐈‍⬛ #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Someone on radio 4 earlier talking about the importance of a qualified librarian in school libraries had me saying YES out loud. Shouldn't need pointing out perhaps but so often librarians are left out of the conversation about school libraries. #UKKidLit

I was thrilled to see Beth O’Brien’s fabulous Wolf Siren win at the Carnegies this week. It so cleverly leans into and extends the story of Little Red Riding Hood. What other great children’s books play with well known Folk and Fairtytales, Myths and Legends? #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #KidLit

Quite shocked - and a little ticked off - that @theguardian.com with its large book section has had zero coverage of the @carnegiemedals.bsky.social Kids books are a HUGE part of the industry, and the Carnegie is essentially our Booker. What’s up with that, @theguardian.com ?

Thank you to all the wonderful schools who read the books, watched the author visits, entered the competitions and voted! And finally, thank you to all of our shortlisted authors, illustrators & publishers for your engagement with the award - you're all amazing! 🙌

Huge congratulations to winners of the Spark! School Book Award 2026! It was close but here are the five books the children voted for…

In the Non-Fiction Category our winner is: 'Choose Your Own Evolution' by @juleshoward.bsky.social & @gordywright.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

In the 7+ Fiction Category our winner is: 'Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion' by Abiola Bello & Emma McCann @simonkidsuk.bsky.social

In the 9+ Fiction Category our winner is: 'Shrapnel Boys' by Jenny Pearson

@hfj0108.bsky.social Hi Helen, you are my lucky winner of a free copy of When Skeletons Rise. Could you contact me on here, or through my website, with an address and who to sign to.

Today we’re celebrating a year of #KidsBooksFriday! 🎉 So let’s go back to where we started - what great book(s) do you wish every child had the opportunity to read? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit (Also some practical questions below…)

It's time to vote, but how will you choose between all of these brilliant books!? 😍 Follow the link on the email to place your school's vote for the best book in each category. Who is it going to be??? Don't forget to get your votes in by Friday 19 June. ✨📚🏆

The countdown to the UK's biggest kids' books festival is officially on so here's the gang to remind you that there are TWO (2! AH AH AH!) weeks to go until Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 June! Be there! londonkidslitfest.org

I’ve been sorting book data for work this week and it’s sad to see some great books are now out of print or hard to come by. For this week’s #KidsBooksFriday, what brilliant forgotten gems should we be looking out for in libraries and second hand bookshops? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Festival FOMO is real people! Fight back by getting your Russell Kane tickets right now, right here at the UK's biggest kids' books festival, Saturday 27 AND Sunday 28 June! Be there! ➡️ londonkidslitfest.org @quartokids.bsky.social

Don't forget that this SATURDAY 13TH, we will be joined by Tor Freeman, who will become a bookseller for a day! Pop in from 10am-1pm to meet Tor, ask her for some recommendations and get some Boss of the Underworld books signed.

A comical start to the weekend, Mighty Mega Pets are proper action heroes and the characters are brilliantly funny (my favourite is a grumpy tortoise called Arthur). The vibrant illustrations are just as bonkers but the wit and silliness is what really makes it for me. @stupidmonster.bsky.social

One of my favourite books as a kid (The Wicked One by Mollie Hunter) had this amazing cover that you had to open out to see the full scene. It was designed by Michael Foreman who has some amazing stuff online. This book terrified me (which I loved!) and the cover art just set the tone perfectly.

I believe in judging a book by its cover. Great cover art draws us in and helps us decide if we might enjoy a book. Sadly cover artists are often overlooked or barely credited. What great cover art has encouraged you or the kids in your life to read a book? #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #KidLit

We're looking forward to the SLA Conference in Winchester this weekend...we hope you'll come and say hello to us and find out more about the Spark! School Book Awards! @sla.org.uk #SLAConference #ChangingNarratives

We have new wish list functionality on our library system and I’ve just checked the results after a few days. We already have sets of Loki books but apparently not enough @louiestowell.bsky.social #UKKidLit #KidLitUK

Next week sees the start of Pride month and, more than ever, it feels important to share books that bring understanding, empathy, solace and empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community. What great kids’ books will you be reading and recommending during Pride month? #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #KidLit

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

I get very little traction on here (wonder why I bother!), so I’ll take this down tomorrow and add the people who responded here to the list of people on X.

I can’t wait for you to meet Arlo Skinner and his family. Nearly there! (Illustration by the wonderful cartoonist - think Private Eye - Twink Addison) #kidlit @troikabooks.bsky.social

FREE SUMMER HOLIDAY READING! I’ll be giving away a copy of my new book on here, when my author copies arrive mid June. To have your name thrown in the hat simply like, repost and tag a friend who’s in need of holiday reading, too. #kidlit #teacher

I'll be at Hay festival this afternoon and tomorrow morning if anyone's about - come and say hi! And if you'd like me to entertain you, I'll be interviewing Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé today at 4pm and entertaining children with Loki antics tomorrow 11.30am: www.hayfestival.com/p-25052-loui...

Hi #Edusky and #EduskyPrimary If you are proud of your reading curriculum / reading spine and have it easily accessible, please could you reply with a link. To be clear, I am looking for what whole books you read each year. Interested in lower secondary as well. Reposts appreciated 🙏

I’m excited that I should have Dan Santat’s new book arriving today. For this week’s #KidsBooksFriday which children’s authors do you immediately preorder or reserve at the library when they have a new book coming out? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Anyone up for a think about what kids books they’d include in a list of the 100 greatest novels? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit (I’m aware I’m being bold by adding a wordless graphic novel in there but in my humble opinion it definitely deserves its spot).

Yesterday @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social spoke once again on the foundational importance of shared reading from an early age. For this week’s #KidsBooksFriday what books do you think are perfect for a coorie in to read together? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit #EduSky

These fab bookmarks created by @dtdelosh.bsky.social @fawa.bsky.social @garypanton.co.uk available for you to bid on in the #BookmarkProject auction to help build a library @ Katiyo Primary School Zimbabwe www.jumblebee.co.uk/bookmarkproject2026

Do you want FREE poems and fun stuff? I am very proud to offer them on my WEBSITE: www.joshuaseigal.co.uk I work v hard to provide my site as a free resource. Do check it out, and spread the word! @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @ofalafel.bsky.social @booksforkeeps.bsky.social #BookSky #EduSky #poetry

SUNDAY SALFORD SHOUT OUT I’m doing my kid’s comedy show in Salford this half term and ticket sales are S-L-O-O-O-O-W so if you know any North West families who want something fun to do in a fortnight, please share this with them! O x www.thelowry.com/whats-on/ola...

Over David Attenborough’s lifetime the natural world has become ever more eroded. On his 100th birthday let’s use #KidsBooksFriday to celebrate children’s books that carry on his environmental legacy, help us delight in nature and encourage us to protect its future. #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit

Latest newsletter, in which I share some actual news for a change. substack.com/@thomashtayl...

We all love getting great books into the hands of kids. But there’s nothing quite so wonderful as a child discovering books they love and recommending them back to us. Which books/authors have been championed by the kids in your life? #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit #EduSky

Claire Powell's author event tomorrow will be a draw-along so don’t forget paper & pencils! If you haven't signed up, you can still join us via our YouTube livestream... youtube.com/@sparkbookawards

In today's author spotlight, Jamie Hammond tells us all about the hilarious and monstrous 'Grumpfort', shortlisted in our 7+ category. And don't miss Jamie's online author event on Thursday - sign up now via our event schedule! youtu.be/My61Z-IN-Xw?...

#KidLitUK #UKKidLit

POEM 1 Things That Should Be in a Poem. As promised, I’ll be sharing 2 poem videos every week that will form 2 collections on my YouTube channel, @rumblecoral - 14 poems from Things That Should Be in a Poem (4+yrs) & 14 from Riding a Lion (7+yrs). I hope this will be useful.

When you look closely at the exceptional quality of books that Knights Of produced over the past few years, it's hard not to feel a real sense of loss. We need more diverse independent children's publishers, not fewer. All children deserve to see themselves represented in the books they read.

As a celebration of all those going above and beyond to help kids develop a love of reading, and working so hard to get great books into the hands of kids - this week’s #KidsBooksFriday theme is Teamwork. What great books about #teamwork would you recommend? #KidLitUK #UKKidLit #KidLit #EduSky

It's friday! Time for the weekly good news thread. What's your good news from the week, big or small? What's made you smile? (Yes, I am watching ER for the first time)

In today's author spotlight video, here's Eoin Mclaughlin introducing his brilliant picture book, 'Once I Was a Tree', in front of an amazing tree! Don't forget to sign up for Eoin's online author visit next Wednesday. @nosycrow.bsky.social youtu.be/GdIrLRX4scE?...

We are so excited to be welcoming @alastairc.com for a book signing THIS FRIDAY to celebrate We Are Dragon! We will have a selection of Alastair's books in stock, including Adam-2, Orion Lost, Reek and more for you to get signed. 🗓️ Friday 24th April ⏰ 4:30-5:30pm 🎟️ Tickets via our bio

#SundayMorningBookChat for April. On my blog in honour of the Year of Reading I explored the genre of Adventure! What are your favourite adventure stories or series tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2026/04/18/t...

ICYMI! Tickets for the UK's biggest kids' books festival on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 June are now on sale and if you haven't grabbed yours yet then these two really should be right on top of your list! ⬇️ ➡️🎟️ londonkidslitfest.org @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social

It’s taken me a couple of weeks to read as I’ve been struggling with my energy, but I’ve finally finished the brilliant We Are Dragon by @alastairc.com. A superb conclusion to a fabulous series and I’ve particularly loved Rieka’s part of the story. Though Fillan and Kevin are also just a joy. ❤️